At a glance

PROS

Cheap to run, easy to park and manoeuvre

CONS

Limited range could restrict appeal, have to pay extra for doors

Verdict

The Renault Twizy is not a conventional car. It’s actually difficult to describe it as a car, more a four-wheel alternative form of transport for the city dweller. Renault describes it as ‘intriguing’, but that’s something of an understatement for something that looks like it is still in concept form. Indeed the in-line seating, where the passenger sits behind the driver rather than alongside, prompts quizzical looks from passers-by.

The electric Twizy is not some pie-in-the-sky idea, however. It is, according to Renault, a practical solution for those who need an affordable vehicle that’s clean, easy to park, cheap to run and low on emissions. It is cheap to buy but you do have to rent the battery on a lease basis between one and four years, depending on your personal preference.

It has a fully electric drivetrain and the lithium-ion batteries that supply the electric motor can be recharged from the household mains via a plug. A full charge takes three-and-a-half hours and that’ll give the Twizy a 60-mile range. Electricity costs should be minimal and because of the Twizy’s all-electric powertrain, owners will pay nothing in road tax while enjoying other cost benefits such as cheap parking and no congestion charge costs.

As a mode of transport for people living in the city, it could well be a realistic choice, but for those in rural areas where there is an absence of local charging points it’s of little use. Those who do opt for a Renault Twizy have a number of options in terms of accessories and equipment. It comes in three trim levels: Urban, Colour and Technic and they are priced within £800 of each other.

Standard equipment on all versions includes 13-inch wheels, two gloveboxes - one of which is lockable - and an on-board computer that, among other things, will tell you how much charge you have left. There’s also a choice of three base colours: black, grey or white, which can be combined with blue, green or orange for the roof and side panels. If you step up from Urban to Colour you get interior decals, colour-coded upholstery, white wheel trims and carpet mats.

Go for the top-of-the-range Technic and you’ll get diamond-effect alloy wheels, metallic paint, a carbon-look roof, carbon-look decals and white-front seat shell. In terms of choice, the entry level Urban is good enough, unless you are insistent that your Renault Twizy has metallic paint. Read our full Renault Twizy review that follows to find out more.